This holiday season, Queen Street East has come alive with festive window art by local artists on 45+ storefront businesses in Riverside and Leslieville.
Read on to know the inspiration behind the window designs of this year’s Queen East Winter Windows Showcase. The Queen East Winter Windows Showcase is a joint program of the Riverside BIA and Leslieville BIA, thanks to funding support from the City’s Transit Construction Mitigation Grant Program.
“Flaunt Flake”
Artist: Victoria Day (IG @artistvictoriaday) | Location: UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique (792 Queen St E)
Victoria embraced the theme of winter by tapping into her love of symmetry and pattern through the snowflake. Fine line work fills the flake creating whorls reminiscent of hair and woodgrain, inspired by UNTITLED’s dedication to sustainability.
“Snowflake Snowy Owl”
Artist: Ella Mazur (IG @ecmazurart) | Location: Thyme Studio (779 Queen St E)
The art features a dreamy snowy owl sitting on a branch, surrounded by snowflakes gently falling. The intricate floral details of the snowflakes are a nod to Thyme’s whimsical floral arrangements and a commitment to celebrating the beauty of nature.
“Flaky Pastries”
Artist: Victoria Day (IG @artistvictoriaday) | Location: Tim Hortons (800 Queen St E)
Victoria embraced the theme of winter by tapping into her love of symmetry and pattern through the snowflake. Playfully adding in classic Tim Hortons donuts was inspired by a nostalgic activity: catching snowflakes on your tongue!
“The Dogs’ Dance”
Artist: Square (IG @squarepopsicle) | Location: Dirty Pawz Dog Wash (804 Queen St E)
Inspired by the Toy’s Dance from “The Nutcracker” and the furry friends at Dirty Pawz, “The Dogs’ Dance” highlights the charm and humour of the wintertime by imagining a duo of dancing and dapper dogs.
“Festive Flourishes”
Artist: Asli Alin (IG @aslialin) | Location: Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine (810 Queen St E)
This art captures the warmth and beauty of the holiday season through intricate, ornamental patterns inspired by Middle Eastern artistry. The design brings a sense of celebration and elegance, inviting passersby to experience a joyful and welcoming ambiance.
“White Winter: A Fractal Symphony”
Artist: César Alonso Rodriguez (IG @cesar_neuromantix) | Location: Hooked Inc. (888 Queen St E)
The art is an exploration of how snow, as it falls gently to the ground, mirrors the fractal patterns that appear both in the natural world and in abstract mathematics. The white canvas of winter represents purity and silence, a quiet space where these fractal patterns unfold — each snowflake, unique and yet bound by the same set of universal rules. I aim to evoke the paradox of the endless repetition and the fleeting nature of each individual snowflake, creating an experience that invites both awe and contemplation. Through the fractal lens, winter is not just a season — it becomes a symphony of form, pattern and infinite possibility, woven into the fabric of a white, snow-covered world.
“Vintage Holiday Scene”
Artist: Christine “Chris” Kilfoil (IG @c.tinfoil) | Location: Philistine (1179 Queen St E)
This design depicts funny, ‘rubber hose-style’ characters interacting in Philistine’s window display. They reflect the timeless, vintage aesthetic of the store. This work aims to remind viewers of the nostalgic holiday times of old, while reminding them that there’s no time like the present to recreate those memories!
“Together”
Artist: Daria Domnikova (IG @domnikova.design) | Location: Jules Bistro (1290 Queen St E)
This mural brings the cozy interior of Jules Bistro to the outside by capturing the patrons enjoying great food and each other’s company during the wintry months in the warm, comfortable and elevated atmosphere of the restaurant. The mural invites the passersby to come in and connect over a meal.
“First Snow, Last Radish”
Artist: Talie Shalmon (IG @talshal_) | Location: Raise the Root Organic Market (1164 Queen St E)
The art depicts three Eastern Cottontail rabbits wearing scarves, surrounded by snowflakes. Eastern Cottontail rabbits are prevalent in North America and they love eating fresh vegetables, like the ones available at Raise the Root. One of the rabbits in the artwork is leaping towards the delicious radish in Raise the Root’s logo.
“White Winter: A Fractal Symphony”
Artist: César Alonso Rodriguez (IG @cesar_neuromantix) | Location: Leslieville Cheese Market Inc. (891 Queen St E)
The art is an exploration of how snow, as it falls gently to the ground, mirrors the fractal patterns that appear both in the natural world and in abstract mathematics. The white canvas of winter represents purity and silence, a quiet space where these fractal patterns unfold — each snowflake, unique and yet bound by the same set of universal rules. I aim to evoke the paradox of the endless repetition and the fleeting nature of each individual snowflake, creating an experience that invites both awe and contemplation. Through the fractal lens, winter is not just a season — it becomes a symphony of form, pattern and infinite possibility, woven into the fabric of a white, snow-covered world.
The Queen East Winter Windows Showcase will run until Dec. 31, 2024, with our friendly contest to vote for your fave designs and enter our local raffle on until Dec 13th (click below!). You can scan the QR code on any of the participating locations. View all the locations on our online map or by grabbing a physical copy at participating businesses.
Follow @riverside_bia and @leslievillebia on Instagram for updates on our holiday programming!
The Queen East Winter Windows Showcase is a joint program of the Riverside BIA and Leslieville BIA, thanks to funding support from the City’s Transit Construction Mitigation Grant Program.